That ancient star, suspended in the cold universe, has reached the end of its life.
On the surface of the celestial body, enormous, lava-like trenches crisscrossed, their depths unfathomable, steaming with the last of their heat and the smell of sulfur.
The entire star was groaning under the strain, on the verge of complete disintegration.
Li Qingshan stood alone in the center of this desolation and destruction, his figure upright like an ancient, towering sacred mountain.
His original blue robe had long since turned to ashes during the terrifying lightning tribulation that lasted for one year and three months.
At this moment, he condensed the purest chaotic energy into a simple black Daoist robe, which he draped over his body.
The Daoist robe fluttered without wind, its edges seemingly blending into the surrounding broken Void, flowing with an ancient Daoist charm as if the Heaven-Opening.
His body possessed an inner radiance, with a warm, smooth complexion and flowing lines.
However, if someone with sufficiently keen senses were to perceive it closely, they would be horrified to discover that beneath that seemingly ordinary flesh and skin, there appeared to be countless miniature, slowly rotating chaotic vortexes.
Each vortex is like a newborn world, breathing in and out the essence of the universe in a mysterious and indescribable rhythm, resonating with the great Dao in the darkness.
His aura was completely contained, like a deep pool at the bottom of a bottomless abyss, its surface calm and still, yet concealing immeasurable vastness and terror.
Before him, the Void rippled slightly, like the surface of a lake to which a pebble had been thrown.
A figure, somewhat ethereal yet imbued with the aura of supreme divine and sacred laws, quietly materialized; it was none other than the Jade Pool Saint and his accompanying contemporary Queen Mother of the West.
The Saint's gaze fell upon Li Qingshan. In the depths of those eyes, which had reflected the rise and fall of countless dynasties and witnessed the struggles for imperial power and the ups and downs of the mortal world, a hint of amazement and disbelief could not be concealed.
"The body was tempered by the Chaos Thunder Sea, and the Dao was refined by the nine emperors' imprints, lasting for one year and three months."
The voice of the Jade Pool Saint, carrying the distant echoes accumulated over the ages, slowly reverberated through this desolate star field.
"Such a calamity is something I could never have witnessed with my own eyes, not even if I searched through all the ancient books of Jade Pool and exhausted all the ancient legends in my memory."
Your tribulation this time is beyond description; it's more like you've defied the Fortune of heaven and earth and reforged the principles of the universe.
She has lived for a long time and has witnessed the rise of more than one peerless genius. She even has some vague legends about the battles fought by Ancient Great Emperor in their youth imprinted in her mind.
But someone like Li Qingshan was subjected to such a violent, prolonged, and almost "divine punishment" kind of tribulation.
Not only did they manage to survive, but their aura also became so profound and unfathomable that it was truly unprecedented.
Facing the illusory figure of the Saint, Li Qingshan bowed slightly, offering a salute, his tone calm and sincere:
"The kindness of our predecessors in protecting our path will be Qingshan etched in our hearts."
"I was fortunate enough to survive this ordeal thanks to my senior's secret use of the Immortal Tears Pagoda's energy to deter external evils and shield me from many prying eyes, allowing me to focus wholeheartedly on facing the heavenly tribulation."
He was not just being polite.
In the final stage of his tribulation, especially when he fought against the nine young Great Emperor imprints formed from the traces of the Dao of Heaven and Earth.
His divine sense keenly detected several extremely subtle yet powerful thoughts projected from distant star fields, carrying either inquiry, malice, or pure greed.
However, before these thoughts could even get close, they were quietly blocked and dispelled by a power containing the majesty of the Western Emperor.
That was naturally because the Jade Pool Saint was in charge of the Emperor Weapon, secretly protecting him and clearing away obstacles.
The Jade Pool Saint waved his hand gently, his gaze remaining fixed on Li Qingshan, as if trying to pierce through the dark Daoist robe and see all the secrets hidden within him:
"I was merely doing my duty to ensure that my Jade Pool Holy Son was not disturbed by external demons."
But you,"
She paused slightly, a hint of inquiry in her voice.
" The Immortal Platform Secret Realm, every step is a ascent to heaven."
That step you took was far too big.
Judging from your demeanor, you've probably already surpassed the realm of Immortal Two and are about to reach the threshold of Immortal Three, the stage of Severing the Dao the Dao.
There was a subtle hint of seriousness in her voice.
She had a general idea of Li Qingshan's strength before he left Jade Pool. Although he far surpassed others of the same level and could be called a prodigy, his cultivation level was clearly still on the second small step of the First Heaven of the Immortal Platform.
But now, he exudes a charm that is in harmony with the Tao, a return to simplicity, and an extreme restraint.
On the contrary, the hidden power that made even a Saint like her feel a slight unease was far more than just the peak of the Immortal Two immortality.
The Queen Mother of the West, standing to the side, was already in turmoil, her heart filled with turmoil and unable to find peace.
She looked at that familiar face; the person before her had undergone a fundamental transformation since leaving Jade Pool a year ago!
If Li Qingshan before was a divine sword drawn from its sheath, its sharpness fully revealed, cutting through all obstacles in its path.
So now he is a bottomless, all-encompassing chaotic abyss.
There was no trace of powerful aura emanating from him; at first glance, he seemed to be just an ordinary person who had never cultivated.
But it was precisely this extreme "ordinariness" that brought Queen Mother of the West, a powerful figure who had stood at the peak of the Second Heaven of the Immortal Platform for many years and was only one opportunity away from attempting to Severing the Dao, to her full potential.
An unprecedented, immense pressure and unfathomable feeling stemming from the disparity in their levels of life!
Although they had only been separated for a little over a year, upon seeing each other again, the Queen Mother of the West felt as if decades, or even longer, had passed.
This is a strange sense of temporal dislocation caused by the drastic widening of the gap in cultivation levels.
"Are you alright after surviving the tribulation?"
The Queen Mother of the West took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turbulent waves churning within her heart, and tried her best to make her voice sound calm and normal.
Li Qingshan turned to look at her, a faint, reassuring smile appearing on his face, like a spring breeze brushing across a frozen lake.
"Thank you for your concern, Sect Master. I have fulfilled my mission and am now unharmed, the calamity has passed."
His voice was calm and soothing, yet it seemed to carry a strange Daoist charm, quietly calming the slight turmoil in the Queen Mother of the West's heart.
"Good."
The Queen Mother of the West looked at him, and couldn't help but gather her divine sense again, cautiously probing him.
The result was still like a stone sinking into the sea, revealing no depth whatsoever. Finally, unable to suppress her confusion, she asked the same question as the Jade Pool Saint:
"I can no longer see through your cultivation level at all."
Immortal Platform Secret Realm is the realm of the gods, where enlightenment and the accumulation of inner strength are paramount. Every step forward is fraught with difficulty, requiring painstaking effort and the accumulation of countless years.
You've only been here for a little over a year, and this is truly...
Her words were filled with an unbelievable shock.
She herself had been stuck at the peak of the Immortal Two for countless years, and knew all too well that every step at this level was like crossing an insurmountable chasm, requiring endless effort and time.
Where else can you find someone like Li Qingshan, who went out to undergo a tribulation and returned more than a year later, completely transformed, with his cultivation level soaring to a point that even she, the sect leader, couldn't fathom?
This completely overturned her understanding of spiritual practice.
He hesitated for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the Jade Pool Saint and the Queen Mother of the West, before slowly speaking:
"Sect Master, Senior, are you aware that the methods I cultivate are not limited to the ' Western Emperor Scripture '?"
The Queen Mother of the West's expression hardened, and she nodded:
"It was already agreed in Jade Pool that you possess a great opportunity to inherit other powerful ancient scriptures."
The Holy Land's attitude towards this has never changed: as long as it benefits your path and does not harm Jade Pool, it will not interfere excessively.
This demonstrates Jade Pool's consistent tolerance and support for Li Qingshan.
That's true.
Li Qingshan nodded slightly.
"Based on my various insights gained from cultivation, combined with what I've learned from my travels, and after comprehending the profound meanings of several ancient scriptures, I have finally achieved a comprehensive understanding and created a method called the ' Eight-Nine Profound Art '."
"The Eight-Nine Profound Art?"
The Queen Mother of the West repeated the name in a low voice.
Create your own method!
What an amazing and arduous path this is!
Throughout history, all those who have forged their own path and created their own scriptures have been extraordinary figures who have shaken the world.
She finally understood why Li Qingshan's progress was so illogical.
That terrifying tribulation that lasted for more than a year was probably not just a tribulation of cultivation, but also a tribulation of the creation of this technique!
Although there had been speculation before, the shock was still incredibly strong when Li Qingshan confirmed it.
The Jade Pool Saint also showed a slight tremor, revealing her inner turmoil.
She lived longer and understood better what self-creation meant.
That represents a unique path.
She said slowly, "It seems that my Jade Pool has truly welcomed an extraordinary holy son."
Her gaze was complex, containing both joy at the holy land's future glory and a faint sense of decline at the passing of her own era.
Your future is beyond our comprehension and guidance.
Li Qingshan shook his head, his expression solemn:
"Senior and Sect Master are too kind."
Although I created the " Eight-Nine Profound Art," its foundation is inseparable from the enlightenment of the " Western Emperor Scripture " and the nourishment of the Jade Pool) essence.
His words were not unfounded.
The Jade Pool's inclusiveness and support provided him with a relatively stable environment for growth, and the profound methods of the Western Emperor Scripture were one of the important cornerstones on his path of cultivation.
Upon hearing this, a hint of relief flashed in the eyes of the Queen Mother of the West.
She composed Calming the Mind and steered the conversation back to the most pressing matter at hand:
"Your return is just in time. The situation at Purple Mountain in the Northern Region is at a critical juncture."
With a gentle wave of her jade-like hand, divine power surged, conjuring a clear water mirror in the Void.
Ripples spread across the mirror-like surface, quickly revealing the scenery surrounding the Purple Mountain in the Northern Region.
Above that desolate land, Divine Rainbow filled the sky, like countless colorful ribbons stretching across the heavens.
The surging demonic energy, the majestic dragon energy, the dazzling holy light, and the sinister baleful energy—all these powerful auras intertwined and collided, causing the Void to constantly twist and collapse, presenting a bizarre and fantastical scene.
Countless figures hovered in the air, some riding ancient chariots, some sitting atop divine beasts, and some hidden in the mist, their auras clashing, tensions palpable.
Furthermore, there was another layer of dazzling, majestic imperial-patterned light curtain, like a giant inverted bowl, enveloping the entire Purple Mountain.
Above the light screen, various strange phenomena, such as True Dragon circling, Divine Phoenix flying, and Immortal King Descends Upon Nine Heavens, rose and fell, emanating a vast and powerful pressure that made all living beings tremble.
"Just a few hours ago, the Beginningless Bell inside Purple Mountain rang out again on its own. The sound reverberated throughout the Eastern Wasteland, ringing out nine times in a row. Its clear and melodious tone caused the Dao patterns to fully recover, manifesting many astonishing phenomena."
The Queen Mother of the West spoke with utmost solemnity, pointing to the scene reflected in the water mirror.
"Now, all the top forces in the Eastern Wasteland, the many ancient dynasties in the Central Continent, and even the great demons of the Southern Ridge and the holy monks of the Western Desert."
And those Primordial Royal Clan who awakened from the Divine Source and were determined to obtain the Wushi Scripture, almost all gathered here.
Based on the corroboration and analysis of various ancient records, this unusual phenomenon strongly resembles the Emperor Weapon communicating with spirits, actively welcoming its master's return.
Or rather, it is waiting for a "predestined person" qualified to inherit the lineage of the Great Emperor Wushi.
The current situation is dire; a major battle is imminent, and the final showdown may well begin today.
Li Qingshan gazed silently at the scene of gathering winds and clouds, dragons and snakes rising from the land, reflected in the water mirror. His gaze seemed to pierce through the Void, landing directly on the majestic and mysterious Purple Mountain.
In his perception, the tolling of the Beginningless Bell was not only announcing to the world, but also resonating with him in a strange way that transcended endless distances.
The light emanating from the imperial patterned screen was a subtle, palpitating feeling, as if something long awaited had finally arrived after countless ages.
The time has come.
He spoke softly, his tone calm, yet carrying a sense of certainty.
The Queen Mother of the West immediately looked at him, a glint of light flashing in her phoenix eyes:
"You wish to travel there? What arrangements are required from the holy site?"
We need Saint to accompany you, carrying the Immortal Tears Pagoda!
Even against the Primordial Ancestral King, they would have the strength to fight!
Her words were firm and resolute, demonstrating Jade Pool's determination.
Jade Pool spared no effort in displaying its strongest resources.
However, Li Qingshan slowly shook his head, his gaze remaining fixed on the Purple Mountain reflected in the water mirror, calm and undisturbed.
"Thank you, Sect Master, but there's no need to trouble you and the Emperor Weapon to act personally."
"Hmm?" The Queen Mother of the West was taken aback, and the Jade Pool Saint also cast an inquiring glance at her.
"This journey is not for war."
Li Qingshan explained,
"Instead, I kept my appointment."
"Keep the appointment?"
The Queen Mother of the West was even more puzzled.
"Good."
Li Qingshan nodded slightly:
" The Beginningless Bell is both a call to those with affinity and an answer to my attainment of the Way."
There is Cause and Effect connection in the unseen world.
This matter requires too many people and is not necessary even with Emperor Weapon.
I am enough on my own.
His words carried a powerful confidence stemming from his own strength and his connection to the Dao.
It was as if this journey was not an incursion into a dragon's den coveted by heroes of the world, but rather a pre-arranged destination to retrieve what belonged to them.
Looking into his calm and deep eyes, as vast as the starry sea, the Queen Mother of the West finally took a deep breath and nodded.
"In that case, be careful in everything you do."
Jade Pool will be closely monitoring the situation; if anything unexpected happens, the Immortal Tears Pagoda can break through the sky and arrive at any time!
This is the greatest support and promise she can offer.
"Thank you, Sect Master."
Li Qingshan cupped his hands and bowed respectfully.
"I'll set off right away."
After saying that, he didn't linger.
Without any visible hand seals or the exertion of divine power, his figure began to blur and become illusory, like a water-soaked ink painting whose colors were fading.
To completely merge with the surrounding Void, and become one with the omnipresent laws of heaven and earth.
"Your speed,"
Just as his figure was about to completely disappear, the Queen Mother of the West couldn't help but ask one more question.
Although the experts of the Second Heaven of the Immortal Platform are powerful, they still need to use the Profound Jade Platform to construct Domain Gate or fly for a period of time with their powerful cultivation to travel such a long distance to Purple Mountain in the Northern Region.
Li Qingshan's figure had almost turned into a transparent outline, leaving only a calm and distant echo that slowly reverberated in this shattered star field and the Jade Pool Grotto-Heaven.
The message clearly reached the ears of the Queen Mother of the West and the Jade Pool Saint:
"Where the heart goes, the body will follow."
The moment he finished speaking, he had completely vanished.
He didn't stir up the slightest spatial ripples, nor left any trace of divine power fluctuations, as if he had never appeared here at all.
It has already transcended the limits of speed and space as understood by common sense.
The Queen Mother of the West stared blankly at the spot where Li Qingshan had disappeared. After a long while, she slowly exhaled, turned to look at the Jade Pool Saint, and said with a wry smile:
"Grandmaster Uncle, I'm starting to think that perhaps we've all underestimated him."
The Saint of Yaochi was silent for a moment, and finally turned into a long sigh, containing endless emotion and a trace of expectation:
" The Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo, having created its own methods, are far beyond what True Dragon soaring into the abyss can compare to."